Stratford dance group United We Stand were over the moon on Saturday night when it was revealed they had made the live semi-finals of the TV Show Britain’s Got Talent.

They have been performing locally in the last two weeks since their first appearance and were given the news by Simon Cowell on the show.

But the group were unlucky in the draw and got one of the hardest slots, when they were pitted against many of the favourites in last night’s first semi-final, screened on ITV.

Despite scores of fans registering their approval on Twitter and Facebook at their success and their performance, the group that have been a credit to Newham did not make it to the live final.

The public’s phone, text and app votes chose Ashleigh Butler and dog Pudsey as the top act, and then again the public chose Welsh choir Only Boys Aloud after the judges were split.

The live show judges were split on the dance group as well with Simon Cowell and Amanda Holden felt they had given themselves a mountain to climb with a complicated performance, but Alesha Dixon and David Walliams praised their efforts and predicted a bright future for them.

See Wednesday’s Newham Recorder for letters page praise for the group.

It’s Christmas time. We know this by the light-adorned streets, the mobility hazard posed by boxes of Quality Street, Roses and Celebrations in every supermarket’s entrance and, of course, the incessant radio-plays of Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You.